Rick Story (black trunks) has earned his shot at the big show with a well-rounded game and a five-fight win streak. (Photo courtesy of Scott Petersen and MMA Weekly)
Once again appearing in its home stomping grounds of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to deliver another night of fights from its ranks of the most elite fighters in the world. Though injuries to both lightweight kingpin “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1) have robbed the card of the long awaited sixth round of their UFC 125 draw, the world’s premier MMA organization still has plenty to offer at UFC 130. In the main event, 205lb-ers “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2) and “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-8) battle to put their names on the list of challengers for the UFC light heavyweight crown. Supporting the marquise bout are offerings from “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-5), Frank Mir (14-5), “The Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (18-4), Travis Browne (7-0-1), Brian Stann (10-3), and Jorge Santiago (22-8). Also bumped up to main card status following the loss of the lightweight title bout is a match between a fast rising welterweight prospect in “The Horror” Rick Story (10-2) and the hard hitting Brazilian wrecking machine “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (17-7). The match is Story’s shot at the big time, and he has worked hard to earn it with a 5-1 record on the heels of a five-fight winning streak. For “Pitbull” however, it’s a do or die moment as he sits 1-2 in his last three fights. Continue reading »
